Tracking water on planetary surfaces using data from the Curiosity rover, the laboratory, meteorites and Australian field sites. A fundamental question in science is why does Earth have so much liquid water, but other planets do not? This project will answer this question using the Curiosity rover on Mars, studying alteration minerals that record the action of water. The project will develop new methods to improve our understanding of alteration minerals in martian meteorites, under controlled ....Tracking water on planetary surfaces using data from the Curiosity rover, the laboratory, meteorites and Australian field sites. A fundamental question in science is why does Earth have so much liquid water, but other planets do not? This project will answer this question using the Curiosity rover on Mars, studying alteration minerals that record the action of water. The project will develop new methods to improve our understanding of alteration minerals in martian meteorites, under controlled environmental conditions and in field samples that are relevant for Mars. It aims to build expertise in the environmental aspects of planetary surfaces and in novel instrumentation. This research will improve methods to examine returned extraterrestrial samples, to evaluate land degradation and to search for energy and ore deposits.Read moreRead less
Novel isotope techniques to explore the Centralian Superbasin, Australia. This project will leverage new advances in analytical instrumentation and isotope techniques to generate improved geochronological and stratigraphic framework for the Centralian Superbasin, a vast ancient depositional system covering much of central Australia. The project aims to apply novel laser-based dating of sedimentary rocks, coupled with metal isotope proxy reconstructions of the basin’s palaeogeography, hydrologica ....Novel isotope techniques to explore the Centralian Superbasin, Australia. This project will leverage new advances in analytical instrumentation and isotope techniques to generate improved geochronological and stratigraphic framework for the Centralian Superbasin, a vast ancient depositional system covering much of central Australia. The project aims to apply novel laser-based dating of sedimentary rocks, coupled with metal isotope proxy reconstructions of the basin’s palaeogeography, hydrological connectivity and past redox conditions, which are all critical parameters to guide and de-risk future exploration of sediment-hosted resources in this frontier basin. Anticipated outcomes will benefit Australia's resources economy, while providing insights into the evolution of Earth’s surface environment in deep time.Read moreRead less
Kinematica: Inference-Based Rapid Resource Exploration Scenario Testing. This project aims to build a new workflow for improving resource exploration evaluation by Australian companies and applied to three practical industry cases in frontier basins. The expected outcomes of this proposal are: detailed risk analysis of oil and gas prospectivity in frontier basins onshore and offshore Australia; a new strategic collaboration between Australian industry, government and universities; students train ....Kinematica: Inference-Based Rapid Resource Exploration Scenario Testing. This project aims to build a new workflow for improving resource exploration evaluation by Australian companies and applied to three practical industry cases in frontier basins. The expected outcomes of this proposal are: detailed risk analysis of oil and gas prospectivity in frontier basins onshore and offshore Australia; a new strategic collaboration between Australian industry, government and universities; students trained in advanced computational methods suitable for the evolving Australian oil and gas industry; and a software product that has high commericalisation potential. The project will transfer knowledge from European industry and universities to Australia and has applications for mineral prospectivity in sedimentary basins. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100145
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$170,000.00
Summary
The South Australian Thermochronometry Hub (SA Thermo). A thermochronometry hub: This project aims to set up a thermochronometry hub which will complement existing Australian geo- and thermochronological facilities by focussing on zircon fission track dating. This method will enable characterisation of the evolution of Australia's landscape, uncovering of its mineral deposits and constraining the formation of its petroleum reservoirs. The facility will enhance capacity to undertake thermochronol ....The South Australian Thermochronometry Hub (SA Thermo). A thermochronometry hub: This project aims to set up a thermochronometry hub which will complement existing Australian geo- and thermochronological facilities by focussing on zircon fission track dating. This method will enable characterisation of the evolution of Australia's landscape, uncovering of its mineral deposits and constraining the formation of its petroleum reservoirs. The facility will enhance capacity to undertake thermochronological research and aid in securing the economic future of Australia.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100065
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
A fully automated, fully shielded palaeomagnetic system. A fully automated, fully shielded palaeomagnetic system: This project aims to establish the first fully automated and magnetically fully shielded superconducting palaeomagnetic data acquisition system in Australia. Palaeomagnetism is a key research field that has applications to a broad range of pure and applied geoscience disciplines. Australia has been a world leader in this field, including the application of palaeomagnetism to both glo ....A fully automated, fully shielded palaeomagnetic system. A fully automated, fully shielded palaeomagnetic system: This project aims to establish the first fully automated and magnetically fully shielded superconducting palaeomagnetic data acquisition system in Australia. Palaeomagnetism is a key research field that has applications to a broad range of pure and applied geoscience disciplines. Australia has been a world leader in this field, including the application of palaeomagnetism to both global and regional tectonic studies. Palaeomagnetic studies demand a labour-intensive process of treating and measuring a large number of samples. The system will significantly enhance the efficiency and accuracy of palaeomagnetic analysis, and thus enhance Australia's research capacity in this and related research fields.Read moreRead less
Reconstructing the Beetaloo/Greater McArthur Basin System . This project aims to build a stratigraphic and water chemistry framework for the greater McArthur Basin—a rock system that covers northern Australia from WA to Queensland. This will be a vital resource for researchers and energy/mineral explorers. This project expects to develop novel sediment dating and isotopic proxies for salinity, redox and bioproductivity and use them to build a sequence stratigraphic framework of the basin. The ex ....Reconstructing the Beetaloo/Greater McArthur Basin System . This project aims to build a stratigraphic and water chemistry framework for the greater McArthur Basin—a rock system that covers northern Australia from WA to Queensland. This will be a vital resource for researchers and energy/mineral explorers. This project expects to develop novel sediment dating and isotopic proxies for salinity, redox and bioproductivity and use them to build a sequence stratigraphic framework of the basin. The expected outcome is a unique 3D lithological, geochronological and geochemical framework for the basin. Expected benefits include de-risked information for the petroleum and minerals industry, assisting northern Australia's resources economy, as well as insights into the development of our planet in deep time.Read moreRead less
Down under down under: using multi-scale seismic tomography to image beneath Australia's Great Artesian Basin. Seismic arrays will be deployed in the Great Artesian Basin to image the crust and mantle using distant earthquake and ambient noise sources. This will answer fundamental questions about the tectonic evolution of eastern Australia and elucidate the structure of a region containing significant deep Earth resources.
Three-dimensional subduction models of overriding plate deformation and mantle flow using laboratory and numerical methods. This project investigates the interaction of the Earth's tectonic plates at subduction zones, places where one plate sinks below another plate into the Earth. This is important for understanding the evolution of the Australian plate that has active subduction zones to the north and east, and how its geological evolution is controlled by subduction.
Seeing the unseeable: A new generation of geophysical imaging. This project aims to develop novel mathematical frameworks for probabilistic geophysical imaging and inference, building on recent advances in statistics and machine learning. These will allow us to obtain a more detailed and robust understanding of structures and processes occurring within the Earth, including those relevant to the Australian minerals and/or energy industries. Outcomes of this research include mathematical and compu ....Seeing the unseeable: A new generation of geophysical imaging. This project aims to develop novel mathematical frameworks for probabilistic geophysical imaging and inference, building on recent advances in statistics and machine learning. These will allow us to obtain a more detailed and robust understanding of structures and processes occurring within the Earth, including those relevant to the Australian minerals and/or energy industries. Outcomes of this research include mathematical and computational tools for imaging the subsurface, and greater understanding of Australian and global geoscience. This work can permit more effective exploitation of earth resources, as well as improving our understanding of how the Earth system has developed over geological history. Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE140100150
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$700,000.00
Summary
A Digital Mineralogy & Materials Characterisation Hub for Petrology, Mineralogy, Exploration, Metallurgy and Reservoir Characterisation Research. A digital mineralogy and materials characterisation hub for petrology, mineralogy, exploration, metallurgy and reservoir characterisation research: This project will establish a digital mineralogy and materials characterisation hub for applications in petrology, geometallurgy, reservoir characterisation, environmental science, soil science, mineral pro ....A Digital Mineralogy & Materials Characterisation Hub for Petrology, Mineralogy, Exploration, Metallurgy and Reservoir Characterisation Research. A digital mineralogy and materials characterisation hub for petrology, mineralogy, exploration, metallurgy and reservoir characterisation research: This project will establish a digital mineralogy and materials characterisation hub for applications in petrology, geometallurgy, reservoir characterisation, environmental science, soil science, mineral processing and extractive metallurgy research. An automated mineral analysis instrument would complement the mineral separation (selFrag HV pulse fragmentation) and microanalytical facilities (SHRIMP/Cameca ion microprobes and ELA-ICP-MS) available to the participants via the John de Laeter Centre for Isotope Research. The instrument and software package making up the FEI QEMSCAN 650F model is the most advanced configuration on the market, and ideally suited for the high level research projects undertaken by the partner institutions. Read moreRead less